Arguments are seldom about the stated issue

Before I go into this new series of posts about common arguments against Christianity, I thought I'd point out a couple of things extremely important to remember.

First, when someone raises an intellectual argument against a belief system, that argument is usually tied to an emotion or experience or both. In all the conversations I've ever had with people about the merits (or lack thereof) of Christianity as a belief system, every single one, without exception, had an experience that fueled the argument. For instance, some people know that if they believe that Jesus is who the gospels present him to be, that will mean that Jesus commands total allegiance for a lifetime. Since they don't want to repent of their sins and follow Jesus, they question the reliability of the gospels or even the entire Scriptures. Another example is when a person knows someone who claims to be a Christian and that person does not act consistently with what they claim to believe and mistreat the person. That person then dismisses Christianity as a means to keep people under control (power play or control mechanism). The point then is to find out what the real issue is and deal with that in the context of an extended relationship instead of just a one time, all in, attempt at converting someone. See also John 4 where Jesus deals with a legitimate argument (where to worship) but gets at the heart of the issue (her insecurity and shame manifested by multiple unhealthy relationships).

Second, the goal of intellectual argumentation, even in the context of the academy of higher learning, is not to win the argument but rather to show the love of Jesus to people. Because of my fleshly desire to win every fight, I have been guilty on numerous occasions of losing sight of the real point of the conversation. The old adage rings true "You can win the argument and lose the person." What is said sometimes pales in comparison to how it's said. If the person walks away feeling beat up instead of loved and cared for, we've missed the forest for the trees. I'm not saying that we shouldn't give reasonable and well thought through answers to honest questions but we should be equally careful that our demeanor and attitude reflects God's heart for them instead of self righteousness and pride.

5 Arguments Against Christianity Part 1

A recent comment to this blog reminded me why I spent so much time and energy in graduate studies pursuing answers to common cultural questions. I summarized these questions and proposed answers in a paper written as a response to Nietzsche's Antichrist. While not posting the entire paper (email me if you want the whole thing) I will briefly summarize and give rebuttal to the 5 common arguments against Christianity. This is the first of a six part series.

There are four primary objections I find in Antichrist and one other that is common among postmoderns and finds roots in Nietzsche. First, Christianity, as a system of thought is intellectually inferior. Second, Christianity is unnatural in the sense that it values things (sympathy, pity, etc.) that promote destruction instead of life. Third, Christianity is delusional, in that it ignores the harsh reality of life and sees things through rose colored glasses. Fourth, Christianity is a power play (will to power) by the priests (apostles, pastors, clergy, etc.) for the weak masses. The other objection is that Christians themselves are culturally conditioned to be Christian as a result of the success of the power play.

Screaming for hope

Ambivalence is one of the major roadblocks to the gospel. It's hard getting people who don't think they need anything to see their need for Jesus. People who are affluent are particularly hard to deal with. That is one reason why crisis can drive evangelism. It shakes people's core and makes them open to new ideas and solutions to life's problems. But we don't have to sit back and wait for people's lives to turn to crap. There are already tons of people who live in that reality every day. They are all around if we'll just look beyond the tip of our own noses. These people know something is wrong and, in my experience, have an openness to the gospel that others do not.

Recently, I've been thrust back into the world of hardcore music. One of the interesting phenomena about this scene is that people who associate themselves with it are, generally speaking, very aware that something is wrong in the world. They seem to be very much in tune with the idea that things are not alright and the current state of affairs is not the way it should be. This painful truth is communicated in a violent way that appears to have the intention of shocking the rest of the world out of their hypnotic trance of safety and apathy. The music of hardcore (and it's multiple sub genres)is an attempt to dislodge the mirage of comfort and ease and expose the sickness and disease that lies just beneath the surface. Since music is the language of our culture, this reality is becoming less and less easy to ignore(no matter how hard some may try).

It is in this context that I see great potential for the gospel. The hard work of getting people to understand that everything is not ok is already done. The challenge then lies at establishing relational connections through hospitality and service in order to win the right to be heard. We have to live out genuine faith, hope and love that causes people to ask "Why?". Love is the universal language that we must learn to speak into the lives of those who so very desperately need it. That is what several of my friends and I are attempting to do. So far, God has been pleased to give us favor with this generally forsaken group of people. May God give you eyes to see those hurting and crying out in your geography.

Dudes

The longer I’m alive, the more I believe that almost all of society’s problems stem from men not being men. I’m not the first to observe this but I feel like it’s not talked about nearly enough (e.g. Brad Pitt’s rant in Fight Club). Having worked with people and particularly students for over 14 years now, I estimate that my field of work would become as obsolete as a 386 computer with a turbo button if dads would be dads. I’m no psychologist, barely a theologian, more of a shade tree philosopher, but it seems like everybody’s got some kind of daddy issues.

Dudes are pissed b/c he wasn’t there and when he was, he was either too busy or an a-hole. So, they become anger boys or withdraw into themselves (many times becoming effeminate), depending on their personality. Chicks feel the same way, wanting dad’s attention, affection and love. When they don’t get it, they find some boy toy and give themselves to him, craving a watchful eye and physical contact. He’s happy to give it (or get it, if you know what I mean) and mutual using and codependency ensues. This is only the beginning of the downward spiral...

Of course, dad’s got his own daddy issues but that is another subject for another time (generational compounding dysfunction.) It’s like compounding credit card debt that people only pay the minimum on. It just keeps getting bigger and worse all the while people think they’re getting by...

Bottom line: Men need to be men. Men are called to represent God to their families and society. When that doesn’t happen it all goes to an exponentially growing pile of crap, and it stinks, bad! Time to step up dudes. Reject passivity, Accept responsibility, Lead Courageously, Expect God’s greater reward.

The Divine Commodity

Having read through the Bible first as an 18 year old, I came away with the impression that something was deeply wrong with American Christianity as I had experienced it. Over the years, I've found others who have articulated a diagnosis and proposed a better way. Sky Jethani is one of those people. You can read a short and informative interview @ http://edstetzer.com Here is a short video explaining his new book The Divine Commodity:

Skye Jethani on The Divine Commodity from Anne Jackson on Vimeo.

Great Adventure 1 of 6

The Great Adventure is a church wide outreach to the community that includes Backyard Bible Clubs, Summer Fest and a Mission Trip. This video is the first of 6 made by Captain (point people for student teams who lead clubs) applicants motivating students to get involved.

GA Promo -Riley & Beau from cody pope on Vimeo.

An all out assault

I've had it. Today I'm beginning (although some would say continuing) an all out assault on the American consumeristic, comfortable god. I'm certainly not the first to observe that such a situation exists. Today, however, I'm just fed up with it. I see it everywhere, in the church outside the church. I fight it every day both internally and externally. Many times people in the church are as guilty as those outside the body. We in the body have allowed people to claim that they follow Jesus and continue in their sycronystic ways of appropriating "God" to their culture's value of security and ease.

Just yesterday I heard a story about a guy who claims to be a follower of Jesus who thinks that it's alright to study the Bible for intense amounts of time and call that maturity all the while, never doing anything to tangibly love someone other than not kill someone and be a nice guy. Neil Cole would say that we have educated ourselves beyond our obedience. Paul would say that we are "always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth." Forget that! I'm done.

Seth Godin said on April 29th "we have enough caution. We don't need an abundance of caution. That's too much." Of course, he was talking about the business world. Nevertheless, the same is exponentially more true of the church. "A great deal more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas. The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution.” -J. Oswald Sanders

When future generations look back on the current time, I wonder what they will see as our culturally accepted idolatry. Instead of words like, nice, pretty, sterile, safe, comfortable and secure, I want to be described as radical, innovative, risk taking, passionate, zealous, skillful and loving because I think those things should characterize people who follow Jesus. I want to go down as one who was waiting eagerly for the kingdom of God, with my hand fixed to the plow, and never looking back! I want to die beautifully exhausted and used up for the King so as to enter into His presence hearing "you've been faithful with a few things..."

An intense declaration that something's wrong

The link between hardcore metal and it's Christian moorings has fascinated me for some time. My hypothesis is that the numerous bands in the movement are motivated by their very real sense that something is wrong in the world and we can't (and shouldn't) ignore it. The musical style reflects that violent truth while at the same time sounding the alarm that there is something better. On that note... My friends in Syrens are releasing a new album. Here is the teaser:

album trailer from chance harris on Vimeo.